GHNS ILLINOIS BUDGET (1/25/08)

Friday

Jan 25, 2008 at 12:01 AMJan 25, 2008 at 10:34 PM

GHNS ILLINOIS BUDGET (1/25/08)

GHNS ILLINOIS BUDGET (1/25/08)
Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.
Contacts:
- Jean Hodges, 630-348-3350, 630-956-8834, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com
- Michael Toeset, 630-835-8870, 708-785-4355, mtoeset@gatehousemedia.com
POLITCAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
- Have you checked out the political contributions database? http://gov.e-rockford.com/elections/contributions/gns/
- Rockford is moving a story tonight using material culled from the database. Check it out if you’d like to see how it’s being used:
- LOCAL POLITICOS: The presidential race continued to be close on both the Democratic and Republican sides. Where do local politicos stand? This package will include a main bar in which we narrate a collection of local voices speaking to their allegiance in the race. We also will include pie charts showing how local contributions were divided on each side of the race. Chambers & Zimmerman, RRS. / evening / Illinois and Illinois News
--NEWS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news
(Please note that this news list is not all-inclusive; other stories will move in Illinois News as well.)
STATE BRIEFS: A collection of briefs from GateHouse newspapers across the state. By 5 p.m. / Illinois and Illinois News
-NOTE: If your paper has a digest item you’d like to share, please email it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.
CAPITOL NOTEBOOK: State Capitol Bureau. / evening / Illinois and Illinois News
STATEHOUSE INSIDER: Finke. / evening / Illinois and Illinois News
SALERNO DIES: Chicago news anchor Randy Salerno killed in snowmobile accident. Previously worked in Rockford and Peoria. / Rockford and Chicago report: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x254753788
ALCOHOLIC ENERGY DRINKS: A look at these beverages, which critics say are problematic in a lot of ways, including their packaging, which looks a lot like regular non-alcoholic drinks. Finke. / Illinois and Illinois News
IHSA: Polling Central Illinois lawmakers about what they think of proposed legislation that aims to change the Illinois High School Association's policy on photographing sports events. By 8 p.m. Colindres. / Illinois and Illinois News
3-D STARS: (w/pic) We get a sneak peek at Lakeview Museum's new million-dollar full-dome video planetarium which opens Saturday. The planetarium has been closed for 6 weeks as it was installed. The museum got a $500,000 grant for the planetarium at the new museum from NASA, which then asked they not wait to buy it. This particular kind, however, is the first one sold in the Western hemisphere and will be the prototype for future customers. JENNIFER TOWERY. / Illinois and Illinois News
CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Federal Election Commission campaign reports due today by midnight. We'll see what our candidates for the 18th District have raised in the past few months. Will check donors and expenses as well. (15-18 inches by 6 p.m.) KAREN MCDONALD. / Illinois and Illinois News
HASTERT PICKS SCHOCK: (pic possible) Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert will be at the Peoria County Club tonight stumping for Aaron Schock. Hastert, who resigned as a long term Republican from Congress in November, will speak at the $1,000-per-person fundraiser at 6 p.m. In an earlier news release Hastert called Schock "one of the most exciting Republicans in the nation today" and that "Aaron is our future." (15-20 inches by 9 p.m.) FRANK RADOSEVICH. / Illinois and Illinois News
CAT EARNINGS: Even though U.S. markets are down and the economy is falling, Caterpillar rode its global strength to another year of record sales and profits in 2007. Company outlook for 2008 predicts another record. PAUL GORDON / Illinois and Illinois News
LUMP SUM: Mitsubishi workers who took concessions in 2006 and have basically been working without an hourly raise increase reportedly may be asked to take a lump sum in April of $3,400 instead of getting the $4.03 per hour increase the company and union initially agreed to. Efforting details, comments. (8-10 inches) by 7:30 p.m. MICHAEL MACIAG. / Illinois and Illinois News
STREATOR ETHANOL: The attorney for the nearly complete but bankrupt Canton ethanol plant has informed investors in another central Illinois ethanol facility that they can recoup a portion of their money as plans are put on indefinite hold. Those investors in the 60-million gallon Streator plant were told they could get 72 percent of their investment back at a meeting Thursday night. (10-12 inches by 7 p.m.) MATT BUEDEL. / Illinois and Illinois News
CARPENTER PARK: (for Sunday) A new management plan for Carpenter Park, Sangamon County's only state nature preserve, will help protect the high quality forest that is home to some oak trees in excess of 400 years old. Only a fraction of 1 percent of the land in Illinois retains the natural character it had when European settlers arrived. Remaining remnants often are beset by problems including invasive species of plants, a lack of fire management and incompatible uses that damage the fragile ecosystems. Many are isolated and surrounded by urban development. Bill Crook has seen Carpenter Park from all sides. As an artist, he has set his easel in the woods and tried to capture the forest's beauty. As a founding member of the Friends of Carpenter Park - now Friends of the Sangamon Valley, he has tried to protect the delicate balance of plants and animals that remain. Becky Croteau, a former steward of Carpenter Park now at Lincoln Land Community College, calls it "precious educational resource." "It's very significant as we approach the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday that we have something to show our children of the Illinois that he knew." Chris Young w/photos and breakouts. SJR / Illinois and Illinois News
SHERYL ESSENBURG: (for Sunday) Profile of Sangamon County state's attorney who has sent more sex offenders to the big muddy correctional center (where illinois houses sex offenders) than any other prosecutor in illinois. Antonacci w/photo SJR / Illinois and Illinois News
MILITARY TAX BREAK: (for Sunday) Only a handful of people have claimed a property tax break open to service members who return from active duty in an armed conflict. One of them is a guy from athens who john talked to. The deal gives you a one-time reduction in the tax assessment on your principal residence of $5,000; a veteran typically saves several hundred dollars in his/her actual tax bill. Reynolds SJR, with breakouts. / Illinois and Illinois News
--OPINIONS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions
(if your paper would like to submit an editorial or other opinion piece that would work statewide (or nationwide), please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com)
BRITT: Obama vs. the Clintons: 'Godfather' style. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1925671542
WOOD ON WORDS: Barry Wood’s weekly words column. / evening / Illinois Opinions and Barry Wood
--SPORTS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports
MIKE NADEL:
- For Saturday: No column
- For Sunday: TBA
- For Monday: Bulls vs. Suns
ILLINI:
- For Saturday:
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL: A story or notebook from coach Bruce Weber's press conference today. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten. Moving early evening.
- For Sunday:
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL: In a short time as assistant coach, Illinois' Jerrance Howard helped recruiting with his energy and positive attitude. The former Illini reserve guard is building a vast network of connections. With box updating season?of Illini recruits. Serves as Illinois-Northwestern preview. Also with preview capsule. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten. Moving early evening.
- For Monday:
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL: Illinois vs. Northwestern. Game coverage. Tipoff 7 p.m. Game story with quotes and report card moving about 10.30 p.m. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten.
--LIFESTYLE--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois
The following stories moved earlier this week but are good for weekend release:
DRUNKOREXIC: You know you’re going out for a drink to unwind after work or to a party later tonight. There will be booze and its accompanying calories, so you opt for a salad at lunch or dinner. Or you skip a meal entirely. Sound familiar? Rockford. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x142933701
SAFE SUPPLEMENTS: Is there such a thing? Marion. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1151551608
Also, coming tonight from Peoria:
- Research good enough to eat - Food scientists understand your body runs better on premium fuel
- (Family) practice makes perfect - Methodist Family Medical Center's 'skin clinic' gives non-specialists valuable experience to better serve their patients
- Celebrating pie - Not that you ever need a reason to eat pie, but National Pie Day was this past week

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